A case of freemartin with atresia recti and ani in Japanese Black calf.

A female Japanese Black calf was born on 25 March 2003 at Hiroshima University Farm as a co-twin to a male Japanese Black calf. The male calf showed no external urogenital abnormalities. The absence of anal opening and external features of freemartinism were observed in the female. A small opening to the vulva (about 1.5 cm in length) with fused lips and a prominent clitoris were seen. The hair around the vulva was 3.5 cm in length and was heavy and dense. The distance from the vulva to the atretic anus was 9.0 cm. There were no other detectable abnormalities on physical examination. The PCR-based DNA test showed male-specific sequences confirming the calf to be freemartin. At autopsy 1 day after the calf birth, the gonads were found to be small and hard and the left uterine horn showed segmental aplasia near its proximal end. Two seminal glands (remnants of mesonephric duct) were located on both sides of the uterine body. A cervix was absent. The vagina was underdeveloped and looked like a tubual structure. The rectal end was closed, while the distance from the end of the atretic rectum to the absent anal opening was about 4.0 cm. On histological examination, the gonads exhibited extensive morphologic alteration; there was no cortex with the absence of ovarian structures. The seminal glands consisted of hypoplastic glandular tissue surrounded by extensive fibrous connective tissue. In conclusion, this is a case report of a freemartin with atresia recti and ani.

A mola hydatidosa coexistent with a foetus in a bovine freemartin pregnancy.

Molar transformations of the bovine placenta are extremly rare phenomenona and the aetiology of this genuine placental disease is still unknown. In the present study, an uncommon case of a German Holstein Friesian foetus co-twinned with a hydatidiform mole is described. Cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of cell cultures as well as prove of the presence of the SRY gene sequence revealed a heterosexual twin pregnancy. A chimeric condition of the mole was also established. In addition, an XO cell population was detected in the co-twin as well as in the mole. Upon examination of microsatellites of the parents, the mole and the co-twin an androgenetic origin of the mole is suggested, supporting the hypothesis that molar transformation of the bovine placenta may be caused by an androgenetic origin. Furthermore, the present observation demonstrates that the freemartin condition in cattle can be induced even in cases where severe placental transformations had subsequently occurred and no foetus proper could be detected at delivery.

[White heifer disease as a cause of herd subfertility]. / Witte Vaarzenziekte als oorzaak van bedrijfssubfertiliteit.

In a herd with fertility problems mainly in the heifers, White Heifer Disease was diagnosed in a quarter of the animals. All affected animals were of the Belgian Blue breed and were sired bij the same bull. It was concluded that as a consequence of the hereditary character of the affection, White Heifer Disease can cause herd subfertility, mainly when a high degree of inbreeding has taken place. Especially in the Belgian Blue breed, which is a rather small population with many white animals, the breeding stock should be examined to eliminate the carriers of this disease.

Heifer sterility associated with single-birth freemartinism.

Thirty-four heifers not conceiving to three or more inseminations or natural service were bled and karyotyped by leucocyte culture. Twelve were found to be sex-chromosome chimeras of which five were single-born. Three out of the five singleton sex-chromosome chimeric heifers were slaughtered and at post mortem examination abnormalities of the reproductive tract were observed. Two the the slaughtered animals were Friesian heifers that had shown normal oestrous cycles and had reproductive organs apparently normal on clinical examination; however, one of them with 5 per cent male cells had a nonpatent cervix, while the other with 12 per cent male cells had non-patent uterine horns. Both heifers possessed functional ovaries, the former had an active corpus luteum and the latter had a developing follicle. The third heifer with 45 per cent male cells had a normal vagina, enlarged clitoris, seminal vesicles and gonads resembling fetal testes with both primitive ovarian and testicular structures. The Old Gloucester and Friesian heifers with 2-5 per cent and 12-0 per cent male cells are alive and have normal external genitalia but rudimentary uterine horns with no palpable gonads. Cytogenetic examination has demonstrated for the first time the existence of single-born freemartins resulting from the death of their male co-twins after fetal vascular anastomosis has been established.